Ski binding, especially for cross-country skis

ABSTRACT

A ski binding for cross-country ski fixes the front section of a boot such that the heel of the boot can be freely lifted off. The boot is fixed to the binding by an interlocking engagement of its sole, and by holding down the front end of the sole. Elements are also provided that laterally guide and stabilize the sole and, hence, the boot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a binding, especially for cross-country skis,for fixing a front section of a boot in such a way that during use theheel of the boot can be freely lifted off.

2. Description of the Related Art

Such bindings are generally known for skis intended for cross-country ortouring use or for telemark sport. A binding designed for this purposeshould be both simple in construction and reliable in function, duringboth cross-country and downhill skiing. Furthermore, a binding fortouring or cross-country skiing should be ergonomically advantageous,enabling anatomically appropriate locomotor movements on skis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This aim is attained with a ski binding of the kind mentioned above inthat the boot becomes fixed to the binding firstly by a hooking orinterlocking engagement of the sole of the boot, in the region betweenthe ball and the front end and in particular in the toe-joint region ofthe sole, and secondly by means of a device that acts on the sole or onthe boot, in particular in an elastic manner, so that the engagementremains secure during use.

This kind of attachment of a boot to a binding is extremely simple andnevertheless functions suitably. The boot is merely hooked into orinterlocked with the binding, while each of the interlocking elements isan immobile part of the sole or binding, respectively. To keep theinterlocking stable, of course, other means must be provided that act onthe boot or its sole in such a way that the boot remains engaged duringuse. These means preferably comprise elastically pretensioned tensioningmeans, which when required simultaneously guide the boot laterally andstabilize it. This embodiment is particularly advantageous for downhillskiing.

Another embodiment of the structural principle in accordance with theinvention is characterized in that the means acting on the sole or theboot keep it engaged with the binding by holding the front end of thesole down. As a result, the sole of the ski boot in the region betweenthe engagement site and the front end is held firmly to the binding orits upper surface and a constant contact between boot and ski isensured. This contact is also not broken when in the region between theengagement site and the front end of the sole an elastically yieldingelement, or flexor, is disposed between sole and binding.

The means acting on the sole or the boot in order to maintain theengagement can be either a tensioning cable that passes around the heelof the boot and keeps the boot in place by exerting a force that tendsto pull it forward, or a tensioning cable that passes around the frontend of the boot or its sole and keeps the boot in place by exerting aforce directed towards the back.

When the front end of the sole is to be held down, it is preferable touse a closing element pivotably mounted on a U- or C-shaped swivel ironand connected to an actuating lever, such that the swivel iron ispivotably mounted on the binding near the sole engagement site andpositioned below, about at the same level as, or just above the sole, sothat the two arms of the swivel iron extend along the two lateral edgesof the sole in a diagonally forward and upward direction, and stabilizethe sole and hence the boot at the sides. The swivel iron thus has adouble function: firstly it serves to hold the closing element, andsecondly its arms simultaneously guide the boot laterally. It is alsoimportant that the coupling of the swivel iron is situated near the siteof engagement of the sole, either just ahead of or just behind thissite. By this means a functionally secure interlocking is achievedentirely by the closing element, with no need for the exertion of veryhigh forces in order to actuate that element.

When in the locked position, the closing element is kept in a positionbeyond the dead point, where its axis of rotation is above the lineconnecting the site at which it abuts against the sole and the site atwhich the U- or C-shaped swivel iron is coupled to the binding. In orderto open the closing element and hence the binding, the axis of rotationis brought into a position below said connecting line, by theappropriate imposition of force on an actuating lever connected to theclosing element.

The interlocking elements are kept in the engaged position exclusivelyby the closing element. No separate closing elements in the sole regionor on the underside of the sole are required for this purpose.

It should also be mentioned that the interlocking in the toe-jointregion of the sole is particularly advantageous anatomically. As aresult the foot is minimally constrained during the so-called diagonalstep. Because of the additional lateral stabilization of the boot in thelast-mentioned embodiment, this is also suitable for so-called skatingand in particular for telemark sport.

The pivot bearing or the axis of rotation of the swivel iron ispreferably adjustable in its height, in particular so that it can bepositioned below the level of the sole, at the same level as the sole,or above it. These adjustments have an influence on the resistancemoment when the heel of the boot is raised. The higher the coupling ofthe swivel iron is positioned, the more rapidly does the resistancemoment rise.

In the case in which the means acting on the sole or the boot in orderto maintain the interlocking comprises a tensioning cable that passesaround the front end of the boot or of its sole, this cable too iscoupled to a closing element, which preferably is disposed behind theboot and is accessible. The actual closing mechanism in this embodimentcan be disposed below the sole, in particular below the heel of theboot, and can comprise an elbow-lever arrangement which can be broughtinto a beyond-dead-point closed position by pressing it down with theheel.

Alternatively, it is conceivable for the boot to be fixed to the bindingby interlocking means (receiving openings) disposed in the sole-sidedregion between ball and front end of the sole, in particular in thetoe-joint region of the sole, into which are inserted in a lock-likemanner retaining hooks that are movably mounted on the binding side.

In principle it holds for all embodiments that for engagement of thesole, on the under surface thereof first interlocking elements aredisposed that interact with complementary second interlocking elementson the binding in such a way that in the interlocked state the sole andhence the boot is held to the binding firmly, i.e. substantially withoutplay.

As sole-sided interlocking elements there can be provided at least one,in particular two retaining hooks, which are bent backward and arepreferably disposed near the edge of the sole, and which can be insertedinto complementary receiving openings on the binding side. These arepreferably formed by wire straps bent into approximately a U shape, eachof which stands upright with its width oriented transversely withrespect to the long direction of the ski or boot. These define openingsdirected forward and backward to receive the sole-sided retaining hooks.

It is further of quite crucial significance that the sole-sidedinterlocking elements are so disposed as to lie within the sole, so thatthey do not project beyond its tread, for which purpose they aresituated within recesses in the sole that extend at least in the longdirection of the sole. This measure ensures that normal walking whilewearing the boot is not hampered by the interlocking elements. Theassociated recesses in the sole serve for collision-free engagement withthe complementary interlocking elements on the binding side.Furthermore, snow or the like can be pushed out of the recesses duringthe engagement process, i.e. when the sole-sided interlocking elementsare being inserted into the binding-sided receiving openings.

In principle it is also conceivable for the sole-sided interlockingelements to be engaged with complementary interlocking elements on thebinding by merely inserting the boot and standing in or on the binding(step-in mechanism). However, it is then necessary to open thisengagement mechanism manually in order to get out of the binding, forwhich a special handle is required.

The sole-sided interlocking elements can also consist of at least one,in particular two receiving slots, each disposed near the edge of thesole and opening towards the back, in the form of a receiving fork intowhich screws or the like disposed on the binding can be inserted in sucha way that the heads of the screws overlap the receiving slots. Thisconstruction is an alternative to the construction previously described.

It is also conceivable to use as sole-sided interlocking elements atleast one, in particular two cross-axles each disposed within a recessnear the edge of the sole, which extend approximately parallel to thetread of the sole and can be inserted into hooks or straps that are bentforward and disposed on the binding, so as to become engaged therewith.Alternatively, the sole-sided interlocking elements can be constructedas a retaining iron bent into a U or C shape,

With the closing element that acts on the front end of the sole there ispreferably also associated an elastic element against the action ofwhich it can be moved past the dead-point line. This elastic element canbe part of an arm of the swivel iron that holds the closing element.Alternatively, the elastic element can be disposed between the swiveliron and the closing element itself, as an elastic pressure elementbetween swivel iron and closing element on the side thereof that facesthe boot.

Finally, it should be pointed out that a ski brake can be associatedwith the binding, in particular a ski brake of the conventional kind,which when the boot is inserted into the binding and the front part ofthe sole is engaged therewith can be pivoted into an inactive travellingposition against the action of a torsion spring, and does not return tothe braking position until the boot is removed from the binding. Forthis purpose a sole-contact plate is coupled to the ski brake, at thefront end of which a sole abutment is formed. When the boot enters thebinding, the front end of the sole is brought into contact with saidsole abutment. Then the sole-contact plate is pressed downward andsimultaneously the ski brake pivots upward into the travelling position.After this the boot can be pulled backwards relative to the ski so thatit interlocks with the binding. This engagement is secured by theclosing element described above and its action on the front end of thesole.

Preferably the described interlocking and closing mechanism is situatedon a plate that is fixed to the upper surface of the ski or to a bindingshell mounted thereon in such a way that it can be swung to the sideunder the action of a specified limiting torsional load; that is, it canrotate about an axis that is approximately perpendicular to the uppersurface of the ski. As a result, the ski binding in accordance with theinvention amounts to a safety binding, which is particularly attractivefor telemark sport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, preferred embodiments of a ski binding or bindingarrangement in accordance with the invention are explained withreference to the attached drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a bindingarrangement in accordance with the invention, which also comprises a skibrake, and the associated boot, shown just before it enters the binding;

FIG. 2 shows the binding arrangement of FIG. 1 after the boot hasentered;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the binding arrangement according toFIG. 1 without boot;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the binding arrangement according to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the front part of the sole of a ski boot associated withthe binding arrangement according to FIGS. 1 to 4, as viewed from below;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a bindingarrangement constructed in accordance with the invention with associatedboot, before the latter enters the binding, wherein this bindingarrangement is characterized in that the fixation mechanism for the bootis mounted on a plate that is released upon overloading;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the binding arrangement according toFIG. 6 with boot fixed to the binding;

FIG. 8 shows the binding arrangement according to FIGS. 6 and 7 withoutassociated ski boot, in schematic side view;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the binding arrangement according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows the binding arrangement according to FIGS. 6 to 9 afterrelease from the ski owing to the action of an overload;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the binding arrangement according to FIG. 10showing a boot released after overloading;

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of a ski boot constructed in accordancewith the invention, partially in longitudinal section (front part ofsole);

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the front sole part of a modified ski boot;

FIG. 14 shows the front sole part of the boot according to

FIG. 13 in section along the line XVI—XVI in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a bindingarrangement in accordance with the invention, showing the associatedboot being inserted into the binding, wherein this binding arrangementcomprises a retaining hook on the binding side, mounted so as to belongitudinally displaceable, and a closing mechanism coupled thereto;

FIG. 16 shows the binding arrangement according to FIG. 15 after theboot has been inserted;

FIG. 17 shows a fourth embodiment of a binding arrangement in accordancewith the invention with binding-sided, longitudinally displaceableretaining hook coupled to a closing mechanism, in schematic side viewcorresponding to that of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 shows the binding arrangement according to FIG. 17 afterinsertion of the boot into the binding;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are schematic side views of a means for influencing aflexor between the front end of the sole and upper surface of the ski,for a binding arrangement according to FIGS. 15 to 18;

FIG. 21 is a schematic side view of a fifth embodiment of a bindingarrangement in accordance with the invention corresponding to FIGS. 1and 2, showing how a front swivel iron with closing element is coupledto the binding at different heights relative to the sole of the boot;

FIG. 22 is a graph of the resistance moment as a function of the angle abetween boot sole and upper surface of ski when the boot heel is raised,for the swivel-iron coupling points A, B and C in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a schematic side view of a sixth embodiment of a bindingarrangement in accordance with the invention, comprising a locking bolt;and

FIG. 24 is a schematic side view of a seventh embodiment of a bindingarrangement in accordance with the invention, comprising a tensioningcable that passes around the heel of the boot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 4 show in schematic side and plan view a ski binding, inparticular a cross-country or telemark binding, for fixing a frontsection of a boot 10 in such a way that during use the heel 23 of theboot can be freely raised. Fixation of the boot 10 to the binding,indicated in FIGS. 1 to 4 by the reference numeral 11, is brought aboutfirstly by hooking the sole 12 into place in the region between the ballof the foot and the front end 13 of the sole, in particular in the toejoint region 14 of the sole 12, and secondly by holding the front end 13of the sole down, additional elements being provided that laterallyguide and stabilize the sole 12 or boot 10 while the binding is in use,in particular when the heel 23 of the boot is raised. This lateralstabilization is mediated by a U- or C-shaped swivel iron 31, mounted soas to pivot about an axis 30 and bearing on its cross-piece 32 a closingelement 15 that acts on the front end 13 of the sole and is in turnpivotably mounted (axis of rotation 35). Thus the front end 13 of thesole is held down by a closing element 15 that is pivotably mounted on aU- or C-shaped swivel iron 31 and is connected to an actuating lever 33.The swivel iron 31 is mounted on the binding 11 below the sole 12, nearthe site where the sole is hooked in, and is so arranged that it canpivot about the above-mentioned axis 30, which extends transverse to thelong direction of the ski and approximately parallel to the uppersurface of the ski. This coupling allows the two arms 34 of the swiveliron 31 to extend past the two lateral edges of the sole in a diagonal,namely upward and forward direction, thus guiding the sole 12 and hencethe boot 10 laterally and stabilizing it. In this concrete embodiment,therefore, the swivel iron 31 has a dual function: firstly it provideslateral guidance and stabilization of the boot, in particular when theheel 23 is raised, and secondly it defines the bearing on which theelement that acts on the front end 13 of the sole pivots, namely theclosing element 15 with its actuating lever 33.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, when the closing element 15 is closed it isheld in a position above the dead point; that is, its axis of rotation35, defined by the cross-piece 32 of the swivel iron 31, is above theline connecting the site 36, where the closing element 15 rests againstthe sole, and the coupling 30 of the swivel iron 31 to the binding 11.

The interlocking elements in the embodiment illustrated here are held inthe engaged position by the closing element 15, and by it alone, asindicated in FIG. 2. To hook the sole 12 into place, on its undersurfacethere are disposed first interlocking elements 16 that cooperate withcomplementary second interlocking elements 17 on the binding 11 in sucha way that when they are in the engaged position, the sole 12 and hencethe boot 10 is fixed firmly to the binding. In the embodiment shownhere, the sole 12 becomes hooked into place when it moves backwards,i.e. towards the heel 23, so that the engagement is maintained by theaction of the closing element 15 on the front end 13 of the sole whenthe closing element is in the closed position, shown in FIG. 2.

As sole-sided interlocking elements 16 in the embodiment shown here, tworetaining hooks 18, each bent towards the back, are disposed near theedge of the sole so that they can be inserted into complementaryreceiving openings disposed on the binding. The binding-sided receivingopenings here are defined by two wire straps 19 bent into approximatelya U shape, each of which stands upright and is oriented transverse tothe long direction of ski and boot. As a result, the wire straps 19 formopenings through which the sole-sided retaining hooks 18 can pass in thelong direction of the ski and boot. Both the retaining hooks 18 and thewire straps 19 are firmly attached, the former to the boot sole 12 byvulcanization and the latter to the binding or binding case. FIGS. 1 and2 further show that the sole-sided interlocking elements 16, here in theform of backwards-bent retaining hooks 18, are disposed within the sole12, so that they are below its surface; this is achieved by situatingthem in recesses 20 that extend in the long direction of the sole. Theretaining hooks 18 thus do not project outward or downward beyond thetread of the sole.

It should also be pointed out that the actuating lever 33 withassociated closing element 15 can be pivoted about the axis 35 in thedirection of the double-headed arrow 21. The swivel iron 31 is pivotableabout the axis 30 in the direction of the double-headed arrow 22 (seeFIG. 2).

In the region between the interlocking sole elements and the front end13 of the sole, an elastically yielding element, e.g. a flexor 24, canadditionally be disposed between the sole and the binding 11 or theupper surface thereof (see FIGS. 15 to 20).

The upper of the boot 10, in the toe-joint region 14, is also providedwith a cross-fold 25, which additionally facilitates raising of the heel23.

In the present case there are two engagement sites, each disposed near aside edge of the sole 12; together, they define a fixation axisextending transverse to the long direction of the ski and sole andparallel to the tread of the sole, about which the front part of thesole can be rolled or pivoted, against the action of the elastic flexor24 if the latter is provided. Provision of a flexor 24 is not absolutelynecessary, however, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4. When it is notpresent, of course, the front part of the sole does not pivot about theabove-mentioned fixation axis; instead the front section of the sole 12is held firmly in contact with the binding or its surface, by theinterlocking elements on one hand and the closing element 15 on theother.

It can be seen in the plan view shown in FIG. 4 that the boot isanchored at three points: the two engagement sites and the front end 13of the sole. In addition, lateral guidance is provided by the swiveliron 31, in particular when the heel 23 of the boot is lifted in thedirection of the arrow 26.

FIGS. 1 and 2 also show part of a ski, identified by the referencenumeral 27. The reference numeral 28 indicates the upper surface of theski.

The closing element 15 exerts force on the front end 13 of the sole inthe direction of the arrow 29. This force arrow coincides with theconnection line between the axis of rotation 30 of the swivel iron 31and the site 36 where the closing element 15 is supported on the sole.Accordingly, the closing element 15 presses the front end 13 of the soledownwards and furthermore pushes the boot 10 backwards, thus maintainingthe engagement between the elements 16 and 17, more particularly 18 and19.

As lateral guide elements for the boot 10 it is also possible to use theupright cheeks in the front part of a conventional binding. However, theembodiment described above and shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is more elegant andless elaborate as well as equally reliable in function. The alternativeis mentioned here merely to establish that variously constructedembodiments of the lateral guide elements are conceivable.

The binding arrangement according to FIGS. 1 to 5 is furthercharacterized by the additional integration of a ski brake. This isidentified by the reference numeral 38. According to FIGS. 3 and 4 itcomprises a fork so mounted as to be pivotable about an axis 39 thatextends parallel to the upper surface of the ski and transverse to itslong direction; when the boot is released and removed from the binding,the prongs 40 of the fork are acted upon by an elastic element, inparticular a torsion spring, in such a way that they rotate downwardpast the two side walls of the associated ski into a position in whichthe free ends of the prongs are distinctly below the running surface ofthe ski. In this position the free ends can become buried in thesubstrate, in particular snow, so that after the ski has become detachedfrom the boot, it is prevented from sliding uncontrolled down a slope.

In the illustrated embodiment protective caps 41 made of plastic orsimilar material are pushed over the free ends of the prongs. Preferablythese protective caps bear downward-pointing toothlike projections 42that dig into the substrate, in particular snow, like claws when the skiboot has been released.

To ensure that when the boot is set into the binding, the prongs 40 ofthe ski brake are rotated into a position in which they are well abovethe level of the running surface of the ski, they are attached to asole-contact element, in particular a sole-contact plate 43, in such away that when the sole-contact plate 43 is pressed downward by the frontpart of the sole as the boot enters the binding, the prongs 40 arepivoted upward, namely clockwise in FIG. 3, into the position shown inFIG. 2. The sole-contact plate 43 is rigidly attached to the fork of theski brake 38 that comprises the prongs 40, in the present case by meansof wirelike connecting elements 44 or by wires that are integral withthe prongs. At the front, free end of the connecting elements 44 thecontact plate 43 is mounted so that it can pivot about an axis 45 thatextends parallel to the axis of rotation 39.

The ski brake 38 illustrated and described above is known per se, sothat there is no need for a more detailed description here. This appliesin particular to the spring that exerts tension on the ski brake when itis in the braking position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. It is of specialsignificance that the front end of the sole-contact plate 43 comprises asole abutment 46, i.e. an abutment 46 against which the front end of thesole comes to rest. This makes it possible to fix the position of theski boot 10 as it is inserted into the binding in such a way that afterthe sole-contact plate has been pushed down onto the upper surface 28 ofthe ski or the upper surface of a binding shell 48 mounted on the uppersurface 28 of the ski, the sole-sided interlocking elements 16 or 18 arein a position such that they are prepared to become engaged; that is, inthe illustrated embodiment, they are directly ahead of the binding-sidedinterlocking elements 17 or 19. From this position the ski boot 10 needsmerely to be pulled slightly backwards in order to achieve the desiredengagement of the elements 16, 18 with the elements 17, 19, as shown inFIG. 2. This engagement is maintained, in the embodiment shown in FIGS.1 to 5, automatically once the actuating lever 33 has been pivoted intothe closed position shown in FIG. 2.

Finally, the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5 also comprises thesuggestion to extend the recesses in the sole, which accommodate thesole-sided interlocking elements 16 or 18, further backward toward theheel of the boot so as to form sole grooves, which when the boot isseated in the binding correspond to guide ribs 47 formed on the uppersurface of the binding shell. The guide ribs are disposed behind thebinding sided interlocking elements 17, 19. Below them is the axis ofrotation 39 of the ski brake 38.

The shell of the ski binding, which in the embodiment according to FIGS.1 to 5 has a platelike construction, is identified in these figures bythe reference numeral 48. Within this shell are pivotably mounted boththe ski brake (about the axis 39) and the swivel iron 31 (axis 30) withclosing element 15 and actuating lever 33, as can be readily discernedin FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the swivel iron 31 in plan view delimits atrapezoid, the shorter side of which is in front and defines thecross-piece 32 that holds the actuating lever 33.

The above-mentioned binding shell 48 is fastened to the upper surface 28of the ski (the remainder of which is not shown) by screws 49.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 differs from that according toFIGS. 1 to 5 substantially in that although the ski brake 38 ispivotably (axis 39) mounted on the binding shell 48 in the mannerdescribed above, the swivel iron 31 bearing the closing element 15 andactuating lever 33 is not mounted as previously. Instead, this closingmechanism is pivotably held on a separate binding plate 50; that is, theaxis of rotation 30 associated with this mechanism runs through saidbinding plate 50. The binding plate 50 is fixed to the binding shell 48in the same way as described in the applicant's patent WO 94/27692. Inthis patent a binding plate is described onto which a ski boot is lockedin such a way that the middle part of the foot and the heel can beraised freely from the upper surface of the ski. The binding plate canbe swung horizontally to the side, about an axis perpendicular to theupper surface of the ski and against the action of spring-loadedelements in a catch device, and it can swing so far out that it becomescompletely detached from the ski as shown in FIG. 11. The furthestforward end 51 of the binding plate abuts against a complementarycomponent at the front end of the binding shell, in such a way that theplate can rotate about its forward end 51. The catch device isassociated with the back end of the binding plate 50. The complementarycomponent of the binding shell associated with the front end 51 of thebinding plate 50 is identified in FIG. 11 by the reference numeral 52.

The binding plate 50 comprises a passageway 53 for a contact element 54of the ski brake 38 that cooperates indirectly with the front part ofthe sole of the boot 10, such that the contact between the front part ofthe sole, specifically the tread 37 of this part of the sole of the boot10, and the front contact element 54 of the ski brake 38 is mediated bya sole-contact plate 43, which is mounted on the binding plate 50 sothat it is pivotable about an axis 55 that extends approximatelyparallel to the upper surface 28 of the ski and perpendicular to thelong direction of the ski (see FIGS. 6 and 8).

At the front end of the sole-contact plate 43, as in the embodimentaccording to FIGS. 1 to 5, an upward-projecting abutment 46 for thefront end of the sole of the boot 10 is formed. When the boot 10 entersthe binding, the front end of its sole comes into contact with theabutment 46. Then the sole-contact plate 43 is pressed downward, andsimultaneously the brake prongs 40 of the ski brake 38 are pivoted intoa position above the level of the running surface of the ski, where theyare approximately parallel to the long direction of the ski as shown inFIG. 7. Thereafter the boot is fixed to the binding plate 50 by theclosing element 15 in the manner described above, such that the boot ispushed slightly backward on the sole-contact plate 43, into a positionaccording to FIG. 7. This backward displacement hooks the sole-sidedinterlocking elements into the binding-sided interlocking elements asdescribed above, so that the ski boot 10 is fixed to the binding plate50 and hence to the binding 11 as described at the outset. Also disposedon the upper surface of the binding plate 50 are the guide ribs 47described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, which correspond tocomplementary grooves on the under surface of the sole of the ski boot10. These serve to increase lateral stability and, in particular whentravelling in a curve, help to control the ski by transferring laterallydirected forces from the boot to the ski by way of the binding 11. Ifthese forces become excessive because of a fall, the binding plate 50becomes detached from the binding shell 48 and hence from the ski, inthe manner described by the applicant in the application cited above andalso illustrated in FIG. 11.

Apart from this difference, the components of the embodiment accordingto FIGS. 6 to 11 function in the same way as the components identifiedby the same reference numerals in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to5.

It should again be pointed out at this juncture that both the sole-sidedand the binding-sided interlocking elements in accordance with theinvention are constructed so as to be immobile; that is, they compriseno parts that can move relative to the sole or the binding shell. Theonly movable component of the closing mechanism is the closing element15 along with the actuating lever 33 and swivel iron 31. This makes thebinding in accordance with the invention particularly simple butnevertheless highly ergonomic and reliable in function, especially fortelemark skiing.

In FIG. 12 the front half of a ski boot 10 in accordance with theinvention is shown in schematic side view, partially in schematiclongitudinal section (front part of sole). In this ski boot the frontpart 56 of the sole comprises two recesses 20, each disposed near theedge of the sole and within each of which an interlocking element 16 inthe form of a backwards-bent retaining hook 18 is positioned in such away that its entire extent is within the recess, so that it does notproject outward beyond the tread 37 of the sole. This ski boot has beendescribed above in connection with the previously described bindingarrangement, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The present reference toFIG. 2 is made in order to document that the boot per se is likewiseregarded as invention, i.e. it is independent of the previouslydescribed binding arrangement. This ski boot is characterized in thatwhen necessary it can be used as a walking boot, as long as the sole 12is sufficiently flexible to bend appropriately, e.g. consists of asuitable hard-rubber mixture.

At its end on the inner surface of the sole the retaining hook 18 isprovided with an anchoring plate 57. This anchoring plate 57, which ispreferably disk-shaped, is positioned between the insole and the sole 12of the boot 10 and ensures that the hook 18 is securely fixed within thesole recess 20. The back end of the retaining hook 18 is somewhatslanted, so that the surface slopes upward from back to front. Thisbevelling, identified by the reference numeral 61, makes it easier toinsert the hook into the binding-sided interlocking element, namely aretainer or wire strap 19 as described above.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 a modified embodiment of a ski boot in accordancewith the invention is represented by drawings that show only thestructures of interest in the front part of the sole, as viewed frombelow and in partial cross section along the line XVI—XVI in FIG. 13.This embodiment is distinguished by the fact that the sole-sidedinterlocking elements 16 comprise retaining straps 58 bent into a U or Cshape and positioned within the sole recesses 20 in such a way that eachextends transverse to the long direction of the sole and does not extendbeyond the tread 37 of the sole, as is clearly visible in FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 also shows that the open space between the two arms 59 of theretaining strap 58 has the same width as the open space within theentire recess 20 in the direction transverse to the long direction ofthe sole. This embodiment thus offers the great advantage that therecess 20 in the sole can be made very narrow as compared with therecess 20 in the embodiment according to FIG. 12, because in the lattercase the recess 20 must be at least wide enough, in the directiontransverse to the long direction of the sole, that an associated wirestrap can be inserted into the recess over its full width. Accordingly,the recesses 20 in the embodiment according to FIGS. 13 and 14 can bemade considerably narrower than in the embodiment according to FIG. 12.

On the insole side, the arms 59 of the retaining strap 58 are connectedto one another by a disk-like anchoring plate 60, which has the sameanchoring function as the anchoring plate 57 in the embodiment accordingto FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 also makes clear that the sole recesses 20 are preferablyconstructed as longitudinal grooves extending approximately parallel tothe long direction of the sole.

Regarding the passageway 53 in FIG. 9 for the contact element 54, itshould be mentioned that this element does not interfere with release ofthe binding plate 50 by swinging sideways under overload, because aslong as the boot 10 is held firmly on the binding plate 50, thesole-contact plate 43 is also pressed downward in such a way that itslower surface is flush with the lower surface of the binding plate 50.The underside of the sole-contact plate 43 presses the contact element54 so far downwards that the binding plate 50 can swing out to the sidewithout colliding with the contact element 54. The end of the contactelement 54 that cooperates with the lower surface of the sole-contactplate 43 or the underside of the binding plate 50 is preferably rounded,so that when the binding plate 50 swings out to the side and isreleased, along with the boot, from the binding shell 48, the bindingplate cannot become engaged with the contact element so as to preventthe binding plate from swinging outward.

The construction just described makes it possible for the ski brake tooperate effectively whenever the boot is not yet fixed to the bindingplate, i.e. has not yet entered the binding or has been removed from thebinding, or whenever the binding plate 50 together with the boot 10 isreleased from the binding shell 48 owing to overloading caused by a fallor the like, as a result of which the binding plate 50 swings out to theside relative to the binding shell 48 as described above, about an axisthat extends approximately perpendicular to the upper surface 28 of theski.

In FIGS. 15 and 16 a third embodiment of a binding arrangement inaccordance with the invention with associated boot 10 is shown inschematic side view. This binding arrangement comprises a retaining hook62 with which is coupled a closing mechanism 65, disposed in the bindingshell 48 so as to be longitudinally displaceable (in the direction ofthe double-headed arrow 64). FIG. 15 shows the binding arrangement whilethe associated boot is being inserted into the binding, whereas FIG. 16shows binding arrangement and boot after insertion has been completed.

To fix the boot 10 to the binding 11, the front end of the sole 13 isinserted under a retaining iron 63, mounted on the binding shell 48 soas to be pivotable about a transverse axis 66, as shown in FIG. 15. Theretaining iron 63 is approximately U- or C-shaped. The cross-piece atthe front of the retaining iron 63 also serves as a stop against whichthe front end of the boot abuts when it is inserted into the binding. Inthis stopped position the boot 10 can be moved downward, so that theinterlocking elements 16 on the sole side are in the right place tobecome hooked into the binding-sided interlocking elements 17. Thesole-sided interlocking elements are U- or C-shaped retaining straps 58,positioned within recesses 20 in the sole near its longitudinal edges sothat they are oriented transverse to the long direction of the sole anddo not extend beyond the tread 37 of the sole, as can readily be seen inFIGS. 15 and 16. In this regard reference is also made to thedescription of FIGS. 13 and 14. As mentioned above, the binding-sidedretaining hooks 62 are mounted within the binding shell 48 in such a waythat they can be shifted back and forth. The back ends of the retaininghooks 62 are connected to a heel plate 69 by way of an elbow-leverarrangement consisting of front and back levers 67, 68. The connectionbetween the two levers is a hinge joint, as are the connections betweenthe front lever and the back end of the longitudinally displaceableretaining hook 62 and between the back lever 68 and the heel plate 69.In the position of the longitudinally displaceable retaining hook orhooks 62 in which the boot is released, as shown in FIG. 15 the levers67, 68 of the elbow-lever arrangement are deflected upward; the hingejoint between the levers 67 and 68 is accordingly above the dead-pointline, which is defined as a direct line between the front attachment ofthe front lever 67 to the back end of the longitudinally displaceableretaining hook or hooks 62 and the back attachment of the back lever tothe heel plate 69. In this boot-release position the longitudinallydisplaceable retaining hook or hooks 62 is/are held in place by atension spring, namely the extension spring 70, the pulling force ofwhich is exerted between the hinge joint connecting the front and backlevers, on one hand, and the heel plate 69 on the other hand.

When the heel 23 of the boot is lowered after the front end 13 of thesole has been inserted below the retaining iron 63 as described above,the heel presses the elbow lever 67, 68 downwards until the hinge jointbetween front and back lever has moved below the dead-point line definedabove, as is shown in FIG. 16. As a result, the retaining hooks mountedin the binding shell 48 so as to be longitudinally displaceable areshifted forward and move into the openings defined by the retainingstraps disposed within the sole. The retaining hooks 62 then are in theclosed position, fixing the boot as shown in FIG. 16.

As it descends, the hinge joint between front and back levers 67, 68forces a longitudinally displaceable opening wedge 71, mounted in theheel plate 69, to move forward out of the position shown in FIG. 15 andinto a position corresponding to FIG. 16. This opening wedge 71 isconnected by way of a connecting cable 72 or the like to an actuatinglever 73 that is pivotably mounted on the heel plate 69. When thisactuating lever 73 is rotated downwards, in the direction of the arrow74 in FIG. 16, the opening wedge 71 moves backwards and simultaneouslyraises the hinge joint between front and back lever 67, 68 above thedead-point line, with the consequence that when the heel 23 of the bootis lifted up, the retaining hooks 62 are pulled back into theboot-release position. This backward movement is caused by the action ofthe tension spring 70, which becomes effective after the hinge jointbetween front and back levers 67, 68 has been moved upwards beyond thedead-point line.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 15 and 16 is further characterized bythe fact that between the front end of the sole and the upper surface 28of the ski, or the front end of the binding shell 48, a flexor 24 isdisposed. The action of this element has been discussed in detail above.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 17 an 18 is comparable to thataccording to FIGS. 15 and 16 with respect to the interlocking mechanism.Furthermore, the embodiment according to FIGS. 17 and 18 also comprisesone or two retaining hooks 62 mounted so as to be longitudinallydisplaceable. The difference between the embodiment according to FIGS.17 and 18 and that according to FIGS. 15 and 16 resides merely in theclosing mechanism 65 for the retaining hook or hooks 62. The closingmechanism 65 is formed by a direct connection between the back end ofthe longitudinally displaceable retaining hooks 62 and an actuatinglever 73 pivotably mounted behind the boot heel, on a heel plate 69. Onthe upper side of this connection 75 a projection 75′ is formed which,when the retaining hooks 62 are in the boot-release position shown inFIG. 17, extends upwards beyond the upper surface of the heel plate 69.When the heel 23 of the boot is lowered, this projection 75′ is presseddownwards, against the action of an elastic element 76. As soon as theprojection 75′ descends below the upper surface of the heel plate 69, acompression spring 77 that acts between the front binding shell 48 andthe heel plate 69 pushes the retaining hooks 62 forwards, so thatsimultaneously the connection 75 moves forwards and the actuating lever73 is pivoted upward in the direction of the arrow 78 in FIG. 18. Whenthis action is completed, the retaining hooks 62 are in the closedposition, fixing the boot as shown in FIG. 18. The projection 75′ is nowwithin the heel plate 69, below its upper surface. In order to removethe boot from the binding, the actuating lever 73 must be rotateddownwards, in a direction opposite to the arrow 78 in FIG. 18. Then theprojection 75′ returns to a position in which, under the action of thespring 76, it can again move upwards and out of the heel plate, throughan opening in the upper surface of the heel plate 69 (FIG. 17).

FIGS. 19 and 20 show how it is possible to affect the flexor 24 disposedbetween the front end of the sole and the upper surface of the ski, bymeans of a wedge 79 that can be pushed between the flexor 24 and the skisurface. In other respects the embodiment shown in FIGS. 19 and 20corresponds to that according to FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, 18, respectively.

In FIG. 21 an embodiment corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 4 is shown. Theembodiment according to FIG. 21 is distinguished by the fact that theaxis of rotation 30 of the swivel iron 31 can be adjusted to differentheights as desired, namely just below the sole 12 (position C), at aboutthe same level as the sole 12 (position B) or just above the sole 12(position A). By thus varying the position of the axis about which theiron 31 pivots, the resistance moment T associated with raising the heelof the boot can be correspondingly varied. FIG. 22 shows the qualitativedifference between the resistance moments for the positions A, B and Cas a function of the angle ax between boot sole and upper surface ofski.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 23, the boot 10 is fixed to thebinding 11 by retaining hooks 80 pivotably mounted on the binding side,which are inserted like a lock into sole-sided interlocking means(receiving openings) disposed in the region between the ball of the soleand its front end 13, in particular in the toe-joint region 14 of thesole 12. The sole-sided interlocking elements consist of at least one,in this case two retaining straps 58 bent into a U or C shape and eachdisposed near the edge of the sole in a recess 20 (see FIGS. 13, 14),into which can be inserted one or in this case two round hooks 80disposed on the binding side so as to be rotatable about an axis thatextends transverse to the long direction of the ski and approximatelyparallel to its upper surface 28, which are connected to a handle, inparticular a swivelling lever not shown here. With this arrangement, noadditional devices are required to fix the boot 10 to the binding 11.The pivotability of the round hook 80 is indicated in FIG. 23 by thedouble-headed arrow 81.

For the boot to be removed from the binding, of course, the round hook80 must be rotated far enough that its free end becomes disengaged fromthe retaining straps 58. The free end of the round hook or hooks 80 issomewhat sharpened and in FIG. 23 is identified by the reference numeral82.

The embodiment according to FIG. 24 is characterized in that the sole 12of the boot 10 comprises retaining hooks 18 that are bent forward andcorrespond to complementary retaining straps 19 in the binding (bindingshell 48) as shown in FIG. 24. Here the interlocking elements 18, 19 arekept in the engaged position by a tensioning cable 83 that passes aroundthe heel 23 of the boot. This cable comprises at least onetension-spring element 84. The front end of the tensioning cable isconnected to a closing-lever mechanism (not shown). Because in theserespects it is a known construction, no further illustration orexplanation is needed here. The important point is merely that the boot10 is held in place exclusively by the interlocking elements 18, 19 andthe tensioning cable 83 that passes around the heel 23 of the boot.Accordingly, this embodiment again has the simplest conceivableconstruction, which can be considered as an alternative to theconstruction according to FIGS. 1 to 5.

All the characteristics disclosed in the application documents areclaimed as essential to the invention insofar as they are new to thestate of the art individually or in combination.

List of reference numerals 10 Boot 11 Binding 12 Sole 13 Front end ofsole 14 Toe-joint region 15 Closing element 16 First interlockingelements 17 Second interlocking elements 18 Retaining hook 19 Wire strap20 Recess in sole 21 Double-headed arrow 22 Double-headed arrow 23 Heelof boot 24 Flexor 25 Cross-fold 26 Arrow 27 Ski 28 Upper surface of ski29 Force arrow 30 Axis of rotation 31 Swivel iron 32 Cross-piece 33Actuating lever 34 Arm 35 Axis of rotation 36 Sole-abutment site 37Tread of sole 38 Ski brake 39 Axis of rotation 40 Prongs of brake 41Protective cap 42 Tooth projection 43 Sole-contact plate 44 Connectingelement 45 Axis of rotation 46 Sole abutment 47 Guide rib 48 Bindingshell 49 Screws 50 Binding plate 51 Front end of binding plate 52 Frontcomponent of binding shell 53 Passageway 54 Contact element 55 Axis ofrotation 56 Front part of sole 57 Anchoring plate 58 Retaining strap 59Arm 60 Anchoring plate 61 Bevelled surface 62 Displaceably mountedretaining hook 63 Retaining iron 64 Double-headed arrow 65 Closingmechanism 66 Transverse axis 67 Front lever 68 Back lever 69 Heel plate70 Tension spring 71 Opening wedge 72 Connecting cable 73 Actuatinglever 74 Arrow 75 Connection 75′ Projection 76 Elastic element 77Compression spring 78 Arrow 79 Wedge 80 Retaining hook (round hook) 81Double-headed arrow 82 Free end of the round hook 83 Tensioning cable 84Tension spring 85 Arrow

What is claimed is:
 1. A ski binding system, comprising: a boot having aforefoot portion, a heel portion and a sole with a tread on theunderside of said sole; a binding fixedly attached to a ski; and atleast one interlockable hook and strap for connecting said boot to saidbinding, one of said hook and strap comprising a static member rigidlyfixed to said binding, the other of said hook and strap comprising astatic member rigidly fixed to said boot near a side edge of said solewithin said forefoot portion, said other of said hook and strappositioned with its full extent accommodated within said sole such thatsaid other of said hook and strap does not extend beyond the tread ofsaid sole; wherein said binding further comprises means for selectivelyexerting and releasing an at least partially rearwardly directed forceon said forefoot portion of said boot, to maintain said hook and strapin an interlocked state while permitting the heel portion of said bootto be raised.
 2. The ski binding system of claim 1, wherein said meansfor selectively exerting and releasing comprises a swivel iron on whichis mounted a rotatable closing element, said swivel iron and saidclosing element being moveable to a closed position in which closingelement is configured to exert an at least partially rearwardly directedforce on said boot and maintain said hook and strap in an interlockedstate while permitting the heel of said boot to be raised.
 3. The skibinding system of claim 1, wherein said at least one hook and strapcomprises two hooks comprising static members rigidly fixed to said bootnear opposing side edges of said sole.
 4. The ski binding system ofclaim 3, wherein said two hooks are located in recesses formed in saidsole.
 5. The ski binding system of claim 1, wherein said at least onehook and strap comprises two straps comprising static members rigidlyfixed to said boot near opposing side edges of said sole.
 6. The skibinding system of claim 5, wherein said two straps are located inrecesses formed in said sole.
 7. A ski binding system, comprising: aboot having a forefoot portion, a heel portion and a sole with a treadon the underside of said sole; a binding fixedly attached to a ski; andat least one interlockable hook and strap for connecting said boot tosaid-binding, one of said hook and strap comprising a static memberrigidly fixed to said binding, the other of said hook and strapcomprising a static member rigidly fixed to said boot near a side edgeof said sole within said forefoot portion, said other of said hook andstrap positioned with its fill extent accommodated within said sole suchthat said other of said hook and strap does not extend beyond the treadof said sole; wherein said binding further comprises a swivel iron onwhich is mounted a rotatable closing element, said swivel iron and saidclosing element being moveable to a closed position in which closingelement is configured to exert an at least partially rearwardly directedforce on said boot and maintain said hook and ad strap in an interlockedstate while permitting the heel of said boot to be raised.
 8. The skibinding system of claim 7, wherein said at least one hook and strapcomprises two hooks comprising static members rigidly fixed to said bootnear opposing side edges of said sole.
 9. The ski binding system ofclaim 8, wherein said two hooks are located in recesses formed in saidsole.
 10. The ski binding system of claim 7, wherein said at least onehook and strap comprises two straps comprising static members rigidlyfixed to said boot near opposing side edges of said sole.
 11. The skibinding system of claim 10, wherein said two straps are located inrecesses formed in said sole.